Update...

So the hip got worse. Last night was agonizing and i got very little sleep. I couldn't lay on either side, the only somewhat comfortable position was laying on my back with 2 pillows under my leg. But when i lay in one position too long i got stiff. I kept waking up everytime i moved, had to get up twice to get more tylenol. Then heading into work today was a joke. Sitting in my low bucket seat, and having to use my left leg on the clutch ( i drive a standard) was awful. I couldn't sit at work so i left and went to the clinic. After an hour long wait i got in to see the doc and he told me i have bursitis. Lovely. He gave me some anti-inflamatories and told me to put some heat on my hip, and no more running until its better. It could be better in a couple of days, which wouldn't be the end of the world, but it may persist and if it does i have to go back to see him.

So, on the upside, i am happy that i am trying to live a healthier life and i have accomplished so much in the last few months. The downside is my body is going to scream at me once in a while and I can't expect that it's going to run perfectly...i've treated it like crap for so many years. The doc said it's just conditioning, told me to take it easy and really build my way up, which i thought i was doing. Once i can run again, i'll stick to running for longer periods on my treadmill, and keep my running outside to shorter times and slowly build my way up again.

So, here's a suggestion to anyone reading this post who is thinking about making some changes in their life, like exercising. DO IT NOW!!!! The longer you put it off, the harder it's going to be to get your body in shape. It's going to hit obstacles, like i just did. Start small and work your way up. And listen to your body! This was my body saying, or screaming at me to SLOW DOWN! As much as i'm eager to make these changes, i really have to be aware of what my body can handle. You've only got one body, treat it with kindness and love!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

S :)

Injured...

Crap, i guess this walk with my friend and her kids is just not going to happen this week :-( I felt great after my run yesterday, but when i woke up this morning my left hip was a little stiff. No biggy. But by the end of the day i could barely walk! My hip is really sore! I took some Advil, and i'm going to put some ice on it. I'm going to take it easy for the next couple of days and hope that i haven't done anything too serious. I know i didn't stretch as much as i should have, and running on the pavement is a little harder on the old bones. Not to mention i still have another 35 lbs to lose so that's still a fair bit of extra weight on my joints.

I'm pretty disappointed that this happened...i had such a great run yesterday, i felt fantastic, and mentally i'm ready to keep going. This sucks! I know that we have to deal with setbacks, and i am dealing with it...but i don't have to like it!

S :-(

20 Minute Challenge

I did the 2.5 k 20 Minute Challenge today! I ran with a friend and friend of hers, and it went awesome! I'm really starting to get comfortable running outside and i think that i'm going to do it as often as i can. I'll leave my treadmill for when it's crappy out and for the odd day when it's too hot to run outside. I am going to really try to run a little farther each time, to build up my stamina, increase my pace, and ensure that i can run 5k by the beginning of October.

My last post i was talking about going for a walk with my friend and her children, and doing the walk with 30 lbs of child on my back. Well, my friend had to cancel at the last minute, but we're going to do it tomorrow. So we'll see how my back holds up and how much of a workout i get. I hope i'm sweating buckets, i'm really starting to love my workouts! Wow! Who woulda thunk? :-)

My eating is going well, probably could have eaten a little more today, but it was a busy day and by the time i finished the run, went grocery shopping, and got home, it was already after 7:00 and i really didn't want to cook a big meal that late. I made a yummy southwestern omelette and treated myself to a mini-cake from weight watchers. It's funny, my calories are on the low side but i always eat more than enough protein. But i do need to make sure that i'm not going to low with my calories. I'm "allowed" 1400 calories, but the odd day i eat around 1200 calories. Mind you, the odd day i eat more than that too so i guess it all balances out!

I'm really starting to get excited! My first vacation of the summer is in 10 days! I head out to Halifax and will spend some time there and in New Brunswick for 2 weeks. I'm really looking forward to seeing my friends! And i am making some plans to ensure that i don't go totally off plan while i'm out there. I'll be doing a fair bit of camping the first week, so i'll just have to make sure i do alot of walking and swimming and activities like that. And try to eat as healthy as i can, with the odd treats. But i do know that i will be indulging, and i'm okay with that. The second week i will be in the city and we will be going to the gym every second day with some long walks on the alternate days. I think pre-planning will help keep me somewhat on track.

Time to veg on the couch for a bit before bed. Night all!

S :-)

Taking things in stride

No weight loss this week. I'm not upset though, i realize that you get back what you put into it. My running was going well, i never miss my running days, but i wasn't doing my upper and lower body workouts with extra walking. And i had one day where i went over in calories. I'll just make sure that this week i get back on track and work out 6 days a week. That seems to work for me.

On a more positive note, i ran outside again yesterday, and i managed to run for 21 minutes this time! I slowed my pace a little, and was better prepared. I knew what to expect this time, and i made sure to bring water with me. It was a much better experience than the first time. And i continued to walk at a fast pace for a while, then ran for 4 more minutes. All in all i exercised for an hour, so i'm getting back on track.

Today i will be going for a walk with a friend. She has two daughters, one is a few months old and the other is almost 2. Last time we walked i didn't get much out of it, it was more of a stroll for me. But she was sweating hard cuz she was pushing the baby in a stroller and had 30 lbs of 2 year old on her back! I told her that i needed to fill a knapsack with rocks but she laughed and said the next time we walk that i could put 30 lbs of child on my back and she'll carry her baby in her snuggie. So that will be todays adventure. I'll let you know if i survived! If i'm still able to move after that, i will come home and do my upper body and lower body workouts, then it will be time to watch Losing It with Jillian!

Then tomorrow i will be heading over to the Running Room to do the 20 minute challenge!

I haven't had much time to read all your posts the last couple of days, but i will do that as soon as possible. Hope you all are doing fabulous!

Hugs!
S :-)

Running outside vs treadmill

Well, i did my first run outside. I was running for 25 minutes on the treadmill, and i knew it would be harder to run outside, the ground does not move under your feet...YOU have to make you move! It was really hot, and i did it around lunch time...maybe not the smartest time to do it! End result was me running for 16 minutes, feeling like i wanted to cry, very hot and more out of breath than usual. I walked for 90 seconds, ran for another 2 1/2 minutes, walked for another 90 seconds and then ran for another 90 seconds. I ended up running for 20 minutes. Definitely disappointed with myself. BUT...i'm not going to let that get me down. Next time i run outside, tomorrow, i will do it after work, once it starts cooling down. I will be more focused, now that i know what i'm up against. I just need to get past that little voice in my head that's saying "see...i told you it was going to be harder, i told you that you wouldn't be able to run for the same length of time, i knew you couldn't do it...". When you've never had confidence in yourself with regards to physical activity, it's hard to mentally motivate yourself to do things and to believe that you CAN succeed. But guess what? Maybe it got the better of me the first time i tried, but it's not going to do it a second time. I'm going to put on my music, get running, and i'm going to keep running...and i know that eventually i WILL get there. I'm not so concerned with how long it takes me, just that i do it. Every day i sit down in front of my computer and read your posts. And each and every one of them inspire me. For the first time in my life, it's finally gotten through my thick skull that i can do this! That i am worth it! That anything is possible if you believe in yourself and have the right support! Tears are coming to my eyes, i'm having a very emotional moment right now. I've never felt so understood. I am so thankful for your loving hearts and generosity. Thank you for being a part of my life!

S :-)

Down a pant size!!

Woo hooooo! I'm down a pant size! Fan-freaking-tastic!! Can you tell i'm happy??

I went shopping on my lunch break, and was trying on some shorts. I have a really hard time fitting pants of any type cuz in order for the pants to fit around my hips, the waist is huge! And i mean it gapes out in the back so bad you could practically fit another waist in there! No way would a belt even help. Anyhoo, here i was trying on some shorts, worrying about how they were going to fit in the waist, when i realized i had tried on a pair of 14s! And they fit!! I grabbed another pair, just to be sure, and they fit too! That totally made my day! It's been quite a few years since i was able to fit into a 14. When i moved back home from Halifax in 2005, i was fitting into a size 12, the smallest i'd been my whole adult life. Well, not only am i going to get back into a size 12, my goal is to eventually fit into a size 8!! I want to, for the first time since i was a child, to be able to fit into a single digit size! I'm so ready for this! I don't care how long this takes me, it's going to happen!

I'm heading out shortly to do my first run outside, off of my treadmill. I'm a bit freaked about it, but i'm going to the park, gonna put on some of my favourite work out music, and i'm going to run. My goal is 25 minutes, as this is the final day of week 7 of C25k. I can't believe how far i've come! I started working out again back in mid-April, and i couldn't run for more than 90 seconds at a time! Here i am, 3 months later, and i can honestly say i'm a runner! Thank you Lisa for pointing this out to me! LOL!

A friend of mine, who has recently taken up running, told me about a "20 Minute Challenge" the Running Room is holding (I'm not sure if you have Running Room stores in the US). They do it every year and it's on this Wednesday, July 21. You sign up on-line, it's free, and you show up at one of their locations and you either walk or run for 20 minutes. It's quite a turn-out apparently. And after you do it you get a free hat! I know it's not like running a 5k or anything, but it will be my first time running with other people and i'm really excited about it!

Have a great day everyone!
Hugs!
S :-)

Hectic Day!

Hey all, this is gonna be a short one. I've been having one of those days, you know the ones, where there aren't enough hours in the day. Leaves you feeling frustrated cuz things aren't getting done. But i didn't let that stop me from working out. It wasn't easy, i really had to push myself to finish, but i did. And i am going to find something positive from this, which is usually when i have a bad day, and get cranky or frustrated, i used to stuff myself with food. But this time, i stuck to my plan, and if anything i was on the low side as far as calories go. Yeah me!

Talk to you tomorrow when i have more time!
Night night!
S :-)